As mentioned previously, the aim with this figure is to detract from the straight up and down torso and wider rib cage; make the waist look smaller by drawing the eye out at the bust and above and the hips and below:

• A jacket with an asymmetrical closing will give more of a waist and create some curve. Try closing the jacket with an eye catching brooch at the bust or above.
• Add some curve to the lower body with straight cut (if petite) or bootcut  (if taller) jeans.
• Asymmetrical neckline and diagonal stripes add curve and draw eye out at shoulder line.
• A line skirt will minimise thighs and hips if these are a concern.
• Sturdier shoes such as wedges or mary janes balance heavier thighs and calves.
• An off the shoulder top will draw the eye out at the shoulder line making the waist look tiny.
• Try an empire dress with an A Line skirt. A long pendent will break up solidness of torso as will a V neckline.

My tips on how to wear Spring 2012 colours:

Tangerine Tango: This juicy colour will look fabulous in clothes, makeup & accessories on all autumns, bright and cheery in a fun print for springs and in accessories down from the face of Winters and Summers.

Solar Power: This colour will pack a punch in any wardrobe and bring you up bang up on trend. Try it in whole outfits if you are a Spring or an Autumn and try it in accessories if you are a Winter or Spring. It will pair beautifully with all the other colours for Spring 2012 but will be especially striking with Tangerine Tango or Bellflower.

Bellflower: This soft pretty colour is the perfect colour all you summers out there so you can wear as much of it as you like. Will be beautiful in a floral print paired with Sweet Lilac, Cockatoo, Margarita or Driftwood.

Cabaret: This intense rosy red will look beautiful on the cool skintones of Summer and Winter. Will look beautiful in a lipstick or blusher.

Sodalite Blue: Works well on all skintones and is a great basic to anchor the other colours in the palette. Pair with Solar Power for up to the minute chic or with Driftwood for a more classic look.

Sweet Lilac: A must for you Summers out there but will also look lovely on winters especially paired with stronger prints and colours such as Sodalite Blue and Cabaret.

Margarita: A soft yellwo green colour, it naturally fits in the summer palette and will look divine paired with Sweet Lilac and Cookatoo. Will work as a good neutral in all seasons wardrobe.

Cockatoo: A classic turquoise spring colour, this will ass fun and a hint of spring to update your wardrobe. Wear with pure white if you are a Winter, in soft pastels prints if you are a summer and with Solar Power in a bright fun print if you are a spring. Try and find a hue closer to turquoise if you are an Autumn.

Driftwood and Starfish are great neutrals and you will be able to rework them season after season so invest in basics such as pants, skirts and even dresses. These neutrals go with all the other colours in the Spring Palette so are a definite investment.

For a full report on the Spring 2012 colours along with Designer recommendations and thoughts – Check out Pantone Spring Report

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a bit fanatical about giving my little boy the best possible nutrition and I do love Mayura of Healthfriends‘ food and recipes which are vegan but really tasty. Mayura has a talk coming up with demo and tasting next week on 21st September so be sure to check it out – See details below:

I was asked recently for a list of the essential buys for an expectant Moms wardrobe. So here goes:

5-6 Tops designed specifically for pregnant women and go with jeans and skirt below – Try to go for plainer tops that you can layer or add accessories to as you will be wearing them over and over for several months and you will get tired of the same old prints pretty quickly.

1 pair of dark wash maternity jeans – Ones that close below belly are great but try different styles and see what you feel most comfortable with.

1 pair of dark wash denim skirt or utility skirt (lighter here in Singapore) – Choose A line if you are pair shaped or are concerned about hips and thighs.

2-3 Empire Line dresses that will work for day or evening – Ideal before and after giving birth as they take care of tummy. Do look into getting the nursing variety as it will make breastfeeding much easier and more discreet when out and about.

Lots of accessories to add interest to your outfits. Of course, you will use these afterwards so a great investment.

Flat/ Wedge shoes that are stable – This will be essential as your bump gets bigger and your centre of gravity changes.

I do have a couple of additional things that extended the life of my regular clothes, so I highly recommend:

Belly Belt Set (Found this at mothercare and these ingenious little pieces of elastic allowed me to wear my jeans up until nearly the end of 7th month ; then my thighs got in the way:)

Belly Belt Set

Bando’s that fit over jeans – Didn’t find them as good as the belly belt but they did for first 4-6 months.

Bando

Bra extenders which cater to expanding rib cage.

Bra Strap Extenders

You might be wondering why I have been rather quiet on my blog lately and I must say I have been very busy since I got back  from my hollers in early August. Among other things, I have just spend the last few weeks training the lovely girls at Ocean Paradise.

Ocean Paradise provides beautiful and modern swimwear and accessories in a wide range of sizes and stock brands such as Jets,Vix Ondademar, Zimmermann and many more.

The girls will now be able to conduct a quick body shape analysis and be able to advise customers on costumes and accessories that work with body shape. The girls have worked with Ocean Paradise in Tanglin Mall and Paragon  for many years and they brought a lot of questions to the training sessions. Here are some pictures of the girls doing their stuff.

I had a good chance to have a look at the stock and there were a couple of items well worth checking out:

The Miracle Suit: Definitely a miracle as it creates a really nice silhouette on all body types with tummy support and great bust support. The suit comes in a variety of different styles and is really very flattering.

Magic Suit Swim Dress: A clever and modern coverup that converts to a wrap swim suit. With clever paneling and constrictive fabric, it really smooths out all those lumps and bumps.

You can find Ocean Paradise at Tanglin Mall and Paragon and be sure to mention that Aileen from Nutri-Style sent you.

Ever notice that there are certain necklines or accessories that work and other that look completely wrong. Well it could come down to balance points. Finding your balance points will help you choose flattering necklines, placement of accessories and details on your upper body. There are two common balance points on the upper body as shown below:

Find your first balance point by cutting a piece of string that measures from where your hairline begins to your chin. (If you have a fringe/bangs, start measurement here). Next place the string at where your chin/ shoulder line begin and where the string falls lower on your chest is your first balance point.

Find your second balance point by cutting a piece of string that starts at the widest part of your face (This can be high up or low down on your face) to your chin. Next place the string at where your chin/ shoulder line begin and where the string falls on your chest is your second balance point.

I was out shopping with one of my lovely clients Ann on Thursday when I came across another option for curvy girls here in Singapore – Ms. Read  which caters for UK sizes 12-24. I had a quick browse though and I was delighted to note that there were some nice professional options for the curvier lady. This sector is very badly catered for here in Singapore so I almost needed a valium, when I noted that Ms. Read stocks tailored jackets, pants and skirts as well as the usual smart casual and casual options. I also spied some lovely evening and day dresses, so its well worth having a look if you have a spare moment.

Ms. Read is conveniently located on the 2nd floor at Centrepoint and at Metro in Paragon.

Ms. Read also has an online shop at http://www.msreadshop.com/

I was away when this article came out in Ex Pat Living, so I was quite shocked to come  across a big picture of myself while I was flicking through:)

If you have a long body then the goal will be to reduce visual length of your body and create the illusion of longer legs to bring your body back in balance. To determine if your body is long or short:

1. Get your height.

2. Get height from floor to your break of leg or crotch. (You will probably need some help with this step as you need to stand up straight)

3. If the measurement from floor to crotch is less than half your total height (by1 or more inches) then you have a long body.

Guidelines to dress a long body can be influenced by size and placement of bust so rules may not hold true for the big busted or those with a low bust placement.

Long Body-What to Wear by Aileen Lane featuring floral print skirts

• Use horizontal lines on top to visually shorten length of body.
• Match shoe colour or wear nude colour shoes to lengthen legs.
• Tuck in tops. Wear an open cardigan or waistcoat over the tucked top if you have a tummy.
• Empire line waists are great as they disguise where true waist lies.
• Long tops with a knee length pants are also great as they disguise where leg break starts.
• Wear high waist pants and skirts which lengthen leg and shorten body.
• Wear contrasting belts on waist.
• Short bolero style jackets also work to shorten body.